FR EE IN THIS ISSUE
Summer activities Holidays Back to school
Lots of giveaways for our readers in this issue! Magazine
July/August 2022
Familiesonline.co.uk
SEE INSIDE
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CONTENTS
Welcome
In this issue
Summer activities Keep this issue handy Holidays It is packed with handy Summer days out tips and ideas. Craft Well, Families has you covered. We have plenty It might just save your of low-cost summer entertainment ideas and Screen-free summer!kids’ screen-free projects for the kids in this issue. fun We also have loads of We hate to mention the words “school” at this 13 Summer food time of year so all we will say is – September is freebies and (unfortunately) closer than you think so keep the 14 Backgive to school aways necessary preparations in mind. Check out our 16 Toys recommendations for school bags and pencil The long summer holiday is nearly here, bringing with it both the prospect of holidays and fun with the family – and the challenge of keeping the kids entertained for six weeks!
4 7 9 10 11
cases for the new school year.
Finally, in this issue, we have loads of giveaways including cool kids’ backpacks and copies of the book Helping your Child Cope with Change. By applying, you’ll also ensure you continue to receive this wonderful magazine!
Get in touch Competition winners from our March/April issue Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list here.
Help your child navigate 75 difficult times!
available
Apply for your FREE book Written by Liat Joshi Hughes Magazine Familiesonline.co.uk
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July/August 3
Celebrating 135 years of empowering girls to forge their own path. Visit us this autumn to discover more:
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Families South East • July / August 2022
To advertise please call 07980 556813
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Free printable activities for all ages
Solve the “I’m bored!” problem - remember to take a stash of these with you when your family is out and about!
Seaside Holiday Activities
Stargazing Live Activity Pack
The Usborne Unworry Pack
Including word searches, I Spy Seaside and more.
Activities to explore the night sky from the BBC Stargazing LIVE team.
Collection of fun, mindful activities to help children calm their minds.
Road Trip Games
There Once is a Queen Jubilee Activity Pack
My Holiday Book
Fun-packed games including bingo, word search and maze.
Reading Reward Chart
Encourage the kids to keep reading during the holidays with this chart. 4 July/August
Celebrate Jubilee year with this activity pack.
Ladybird Activity Pack
Bumper activity pack with over thirty pages of fun.
Fun games and activities to entertain kids ages 3-5 on holiday.
Puffin Activity Pack
Word searches, activities, experiments and more. Familiesonline.co.uk
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Low-cost summer fun Something different
Enjoy a wild swim When it warms up, take a dip at your local wild swimming spot. Let’s fish! The Canal and River Trust is running free fishing expert guided taster sessions. Borrow a doggy Join Borrow My Doggy to bond with a dog in need of love while their owners are at work. Free tennis coaching and court usage The LTA is running free tennis sessions or coaching at venues across Britain.
Out and about
Cinema deals Odeon and Cineworld will be running kids’ screenings with tickets priced from £3.25. Hop on board the train. Have a rail adventure. Visit somewhere new on the cheap using a Family and Friends Railcard. Visit a pet store Kids will enjoy checking out the pets for sale. Some stores run animal handling sessions and other activities. Pick your own berries Gather a heap of juicy strawberries, raspberries or other summer fruit.
Fresh air
Join in National Play Day Join in one of hundreds of community events that celebrate the importance of play. Go fly a kite! Cheap and easy to buy or you can even make your own. Read up on tips about how to fly them. Find the Gruffalo There are themed walks based on the books up and down the country. Woodland adventure Explore your nearest woodland, enjoy adventure play, off-road cycling and create a den.
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July/August 5
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Best holiday activity books for kids Want something to occupy the kids on the plane, train, in a café or restaurant or if they just need a quiet ten minutes? You can’t go past these brilliant activity and sticker books.
What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday Sticker Book
Dinosaurium Activity Book
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Nature Sticker and Colouring Book
Find Tom in Time
Never Get Bored Activity Book
Little Sticker Dolly Dressing Unicorns
Ages 7-9. £9.29
Ages 2-3. £5.57
Age 6+. £7.43
6 July/August
Ages 6-10. £9.28
100 Things for Little Children to Do on a Journey Age 3+. £6.50
Age 3-5. £6.73
Age 6+. £9.29
Sticker by Letter: In the Wild Activity Book
Age 4+. £5.57
Holiday Puzzles and Games Age 7+. £6.50
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HOLIDAYS
Perfect eco-friendly swimwear for summer Mix tops and bottoms to suit the occasion. Protect your child’s precious skin in a shortie suit or watch them cartwheel in a cossie! If we had to pick one ‘can’t live without’ item, it would be the Power Poncho with its fast-drying fabric and hidden game on the inside. Whatever your summer vibe, Grass&Air has got your family covered. Just add water. More info HERE. This summer, Grass&Air is coming with you and your kids on every single adventure. Its new Sun+Swim collection for kids ages 1 to 10 is bursting with clever ideas. Made using recycled plastic bottles and fabric offcuts, each piece has been designed for maximum enjoyment, whether kids are splashing in the paddling pool or doing karate kicks at big waves in the sea.
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July/August 7
HOLIDAYS
How to holiday responsibly We all need to do our bit for the planet so we asked our friends at Tested by Tots for their ideas for some eco-friendly holiday products that can easily be substituted for traditional alternatives.
Beeswax wraps
Washable & reusable for up to six years. 15% discount - TOTS15
Reef-friendly sunscreen
Switch to biodegradable spray from Nivea, freefrom ingredients that damage ocean life.
Beachwear
Frugi clothing uses GOTS certified organic cotton or recycled materials. 8 July/August
Reusable BBQs
Shampoo bars
Sustainable toys
Bamboo nappies and wipes
Saves space and is as The Landmann Piccolino effective as the runny BBQ comes in two stuff. Trial sizes available. colours for under £70.
These use recycled materials and are vigorously safety tested. 10% discount -10GREENTOYS22
Sustainable teethers
Decompose much more quickly than regular products. 50% off newborn starter kit - NBTOT50
Eco sunglasses
Made from sustainable wheat straw. Made from natural, plantBiodegradeable. Four based rubber. colours for kids ages 5-9. Familiesonline.co.uk
HOLIDAYS
Days out – put the kids in charge!
There are so many advantages to this including increased confidence for your kids and less brain work for you!
Benefits
Tips
Builds confidence that can then be applied in other areas eg school morning routines.
Set a budget and be clear what it covers eg entry fees, travel costs and food.
Provides valuable source of additional thinking and planning for you!
Spell everything out. Make sure they understand exactly what they are being asked to do.
Research and planning
On the day
Ensure they gather all relevant information eg opening times, entry fees, travelling times etc.
Let them navigate, whether that’s using a phone, map, tube map or street directory.
Suggest they plan the day including time for departure, arrival, journey and food breaks.
Be tolerant; making mistakes is all part of the learning.
Allows kids to exercise independence and test their abilities.
Offer incentives such as bonus spending money for any savings they achieve.
Keep it up Build on the confidence your child has gained by introducing new family responsibilities. Get them to plan the weekly dinner menu or help draw up the shopping list. Start a fun day out ideas jar that everyone contributes to. Pull one out every weekend or holidays.
Put ONE child in charge. Others will get their turn IF they cooperate with their sibling.
Try to back off and not interfere too much but be there in case guidance or intervention is needed.
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July/August 9
CLUBS & CLASSES
Camp Beaumont Adventure Day Camps Dedicated to delivering confidencebuilding adventures. Camp Beaumont run award-winning day camps, from just £43 a day for ages 3-16, offering over 50 activities including archery, football and arts and crafts across London and the surrounding areas. Camp Beaumont is looking to support families and help children to get back on track this summer. With a focus on reducing stress and learning new skills through carefully selected activities that get children moving, socialising and back in the great outdoors! Camp Beaumont has over 40 years’ experience and all leaders are fully DBS-checked. Book a multi-activity programme and ensure your child enjoys their most exciting school holiday yet! Find out more and book HERE.
6 July/August
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CRAFTS
Have a crafty summer! Help the kids with these bright and beautiful ocean and summerthemed craft projects this holiday season.
Paper plate aquarium
Ocean dioramas
Butterfly finger puppet
Recycled plastic jelly fish mobile
Fish soap carving
Cupcake liner crabs
Egg carton bumble bee
Sea turtle
Wooden spoon mermaid
10 July/August
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SCREEN FREE
No-screen kids’ summer projects
Desperate for ideas to get your kids away from screens and exploring something in the real world? Check out our top recommendations.
Water wars
Make a movie
When temperatures rise and tempers start to fray, encourage the kids to have an old-fashioned water fight. Use buckets, sponges, watering cans or fill up some balloons (purchase refillable water balloons). You could invest in fancy water pistols or a novelty sprinkler, water play mat or water slide. TIPS
If you are prepared to lend your phone for filming, this is a great creative holiday project for older children. A short film is ideally three to five minutes long and it can be factual or story based.
Neighbourhood Scavenger Hunt
Family Mini-Olympic Games
Create a list of landmarks for the kids to find in your street or the local park eg a distinctive house or a large tree. Write clues that help them find these landmarks.
This gets the kids active and requires little equipment. They can make a torch and have an opening ceremony. Races can include a sack race with pillowcases, a tug of war with a dressing gown belt, discus with a frisbee, shot put using bean bags or tennis balls. TIPS
Go along with them or clearly outline the area of the hunt so they don’t wander too far. TIPS 12 July/August
Advise your child to keep it simple and start with a plan or better still a script. TIPS
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CLUBS & CLASSES
Performing and developing key life skills with PQA Whether it be diving into their dressing up box or stepping onto the stage, performing is important to children and young people, although its benefits can often go unnoticed. Performing arts can teach children and young people key skills that can be used in everyday life. Creativity. Naturally imaginative, pretend play and make believe come easily to kids and can assist their social and emotional development, helping them form new ideas and develop resourcefulness. Problem solving. Solving problems creatively within the safety of a performing arts environment can help kids deal with issues in everyday life. If children feel comfortable exploring and dealing with problems in a non-linear way, this makes them more confident overall. READ MORE
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July/August 5
SCREEN FREE
No-screen kids’ summer projects
Desperate for ideas to get your kids away from screens and exploring something in the real world? Check out our top recommendations.
Garage sales
Toy purge
A great way to declutter, reuse unwanted household items and make some money. Help the kids choose a date, decide what to sell, organise the items for easy browsing and label and price everything. You can then get them drawing posters to advertise the event. You can help by posting on social media. TIPS
Disposing of old toys can be challenging but is worthwhile for children and parents alike. If your child is resistant to parting with old favourites, challenge them to play with them for an appropriate amount of time or donate them to charity. Involve your child in taking their toys to the local charity shop. TIPS
Put on a show
Retro games day
Challenge your kids to put on a mini-play or concert or re-enact a favourite book or movie scene. You may have a budding standup comic, magician or storyteller in the family! An old sheet can be a backdrop or curtain; reading lamps can be spotlights. Get them making tickets and setting up seating. TIPS
Make a list of your favourite games from your own childhood such as hopscotch, marbles, elastics, Grandmother’s Footsteps, long rope skipping, Oranges and Lemons and spend a fun filled day reminiscing with your kids. For extra nostalgia, provide some of your favourite childhood snacks and sweets. TIPS
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July/August 11
FOOD
Summer lunch and picnic ideas
Whip up these delicious dishes with the kids, courtesy of Neha @squashedpickle Click on the images to watch her helpful videos!
Egg & Pea Cheesy Waffles
Sweet Pea Pasta Muffins
This three-ingredient recipe couldn’t be any easier, making it perfect for little hands! You can switch up the vegetables or even use a frozen veg mix if you prefer. The waffles are a great alternative to the usual picnic food or lunch at home. READ RECIPE
Zac loves pasta. I used to make these a lot when he was young. They are light on mess, freezable and make a perfect on-thego snack. Kids can learn basic kitchen techniques while they experiment with different sauces and build their own muffins. READ RECIPE
Pesto Cheese Twists
Pizza Croissants
These twists are super-easy to prepare and so delicious. If you are looking for a kitchen-based activity to do with the kids during the summer, this recipe is great for teaching basic cutting and pastry twists. And you’ll end up with a fabulous snack or lunch option at the end! READ RECIPE
This is a fun way to use ready prepared croissant dough which is absolutely delicious. You can stuff the croissants with all your favourite pizza toppings. If you have a child who is fussy with vegetables, try including them in the stuffing. We’ve used mushrooms in this example. READ RECIPE
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July/August 13
BACK TO SCHOOL
School bags for the new school year Children really love to choose a new school bag at the start of the school year. Here are some of our top suggestions.
Frugi Adventurers Backpack Good quality bag uses recycled and organic materials. £28
M&S Minecraft™ Water Repellent School Backpack
Large, light and great for Minecraft fans. Machine washable. £24
Novelty Rocket Backpack
Eye-catching but practical. Mesh pockets, adjustable straps. £30 14 July/August
LittleLife Big HiVis Dinosaur Kids ActionPak
Eastpak Padded Backpack
Liewood Allan Backpack
Nobodinoz Sunshine Kids Backpack
Babymel Zip and Zoe Colour and Wash Backpack
Adidas Class Backpack
Suits Reception-aged kids. High vis material. £19.99
Sturdy backpack for A4-sized books. Front pockets for smaller items. £47
Stylish, durable but comfortable with padded Made from organic shoulder and chest cotton with water straps. £47 repellent coating. £39.95
Colour your own with washable felt pens. £14
Great for sporty, older kids. Plenty of room for laptop/books. £21.99 Familiesonline.co.uk
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Starting school VERY soon? Want to get organised and prepare your child socially and emotionally? Watch advice from Emma Lewry at Every Day’s a School Day
Safer sleeping outside for little ones!
Cool backpacks for cool kids!
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Top pencil case picks for September Next on the list for kids, after a new school bag, is a new pencil case. Here are our favourites for the new season.
ZIPIT Talking Monstar Large
Fun pencil case which fits up to sixty pens or pencils. £8.50
Helix Pro Athletic
Large main compartment with wide opening zip, durable material. £4.52
Rachel Ellen Girls Rule the World Stylish and colourful, made from durable neoprene. £7.99
16 July/August
Maomaoyu Large Capacity
Dinosaur Colour & Learn
Smiggle Calculator Hard Top
Narwhal Plush
Durable and super-sized Fun and practical, comes pencil case with 3 zipped with wash-out fabric compartments. £8.69 pens. £12.95
Side panels with elastic pen and pencil holders. £15.50
Easthill Big Capacity Pencil Case
Makes a perfect ‘first pencil case’ for younger children. £3
Brown Paper Personalised
Roomy enough for pens, pencils, sharpeners Great for organisation. and rubbers. Can be Holds fifty pens/pencils personalised. £9.99 with a carry handle. £7.99 Familiesonline.co.uk
Engineering Open House Day 2022 Now in its seventh year, Engineering Open House Day is all about showing children and their parents just how exciting a career in engineering can be! On Friday, 29 July, companies across the country will be opening their doors to give exclusive behind the scenes access to the wonderful world of engineering and technology! Plus, we’ll be holding our very own event in London with lots of interactive exhibits and two very exciting live shows hosted by Greg Foot, with special guests including Dangerous Dan! You don’t want to miss it.
Visit our website to find out what’s happening near you or register for our London event
theiet.org/OpenHouse TheInstitutionofEngineeringandTechnology #IETOpenHouse @TheIET The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (No. 211014) and Scotland (No. SC038698).
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TOYS
Diversify your toy box Would you like your child to have toys which reflect the world in which we live? If so, take a look at the recommendations from our friends at Sheni and Teni which offers diverse books, toys and games for kids.
Sheni & Teni card games
Very Puzzled map puzzles
Cica Toys Yorupad
Our Kids Trove
Celebrate the wonders of Feature landmarks/ Africa through four loved attractions highlighting card games. notable people of colour.
Philly n Friends doll
Five African Iconic Leaders & Queens handpainted 9cm peg dolls.
Muffin Sisters
Helping children discover language through play.
An eclectic collection of culturally diverse toys and educational resources.
African-inspired elephant plush toys that encourage tactile play.
Colour Celebrations height chart
Imagine Me Stories subscription box
Learning with Ez emotions flashcards
Track your little ones height as they grow. Familiesonline.co.uk
Monthly subscription offering of diverse books and black history activities. Ages 0-12.
Ten double sided full colour emotion and feelings cards. July/August 17